The 2015 Raise A Reader campaign garnered $35,038.05, up almost $10,000 from 2014, and the proceeds were disbursed through 22 grants to local groups.
Raise a Reader is an annual September fundraising campaign for local literacy projects where volunteers in bright orange T-shirts hawk special editions of The Prince George Citizen for donations during the early morning on one fall day at prime locations across the city.
The Citizen partners with the Prince George Public Library for the fundraiser and to date Raise a Reader Prince George has distributed more than $312,000 towards family literacy projects.
"We had a lot of applicants this year so every applicant got something but not all of them got the full amount they were asking for," said Kaitlyn Vecchio, Raise A Reader coordinator for the Prince George Public Library.
"Requests were for a total of about $50,000 and we didn't have it. But everyone seemed really happy with what they received."
St. Mary's school got $1,232.25 for their Weaving First Peoples project.
"St. Mary's is wanting to integrate aboriginal history, culture and perspectives across subject areas and grade levels into their curriculum," explained Vecchio.
"Over time they want their students to have a better understanding of first peoples heritage and the effect it has had on them as a nation."
Spruceland elementary received $2,000, Southridge elementary received $2,000 and Big Brothers and Big Sisters received $2,500 when each applied for equipment for digital literacy programs for children who might not have access to things like eReaders and tablets at home.
Blackburn elementary and Ecole College Heights asked for support for non-fiction books and each received $1,500.
"The great thing about non fiction reading is it's high interest reading and when children are interested in a specific subject it's a great avenue to direct them to. So if they are interested in a certain animal, or a craft, or even history it's really great," said Vecchio. "I know for Blackburn their main focus for their non-fiction resources is on science, social studies, mathematics, health and career. They just want to beef up their collection."
Ecole College Heights wanted to have students access resources with a first nations focus.
Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) received $1,000 for a Multilingual Lending Library Program so that people in Prince George could borrow books in their native language.
"That's really great because Prince George doesn't have the resources for that so IMSS is filling the gap," said Vecchio.
Raise A Reader relies on sponsors and donors, the generosity of the Prince George community and the volunteers who hawk the papers all over town and Vecchio wants to extend her gratitude for everyone's efforts.
"A big shout out to everyone who helped during Raise a Reader," said Vecchio.
